Even though the running back can be a short-lived position in the NFL, running backs command a solid ground game and produce a lot of yards and touchdowns for offenses.
The running back position is a very hit-or-miss position, a team needs the correct amount of protection to see their running back succeed whether he is an All-Pro or an average performer.
However, some running backs who entered the league and looked like busts, but eventually found the right momentum at the right time. It may have taken some more than a year of NFL experience to turn the gears on and become superstars, helping propel them to eradicate the “bust” label.
Here are 10 NFL running backs who looked like busts but became Superstars.
Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush, was once a Heisman Trophy-winning running back from the University of Southern California- before the NCAA took his trophy away. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints second overall in the 2006 NFL draft. Despite a slow start in the Big Easy, Bush did produce points for the Saints and helped the team win Super Bowl 44, over the Indianapolis Colts. After an injury-riddled 2010 season, Bush was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he had two extreme seasons including a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2011.
In 2013, Bush signed with the Lions where he had his second 1,000-yard rushing season until 2014 when he was outshined by fellow running back Joique Bell. Bush spent two more seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, respectively, before retiring in 2017. Was Bush a bust? The answer is- not at all. He had some great moments with the Saints, Dolphins, and one good season in Detroit, and got to be a part of a Super Bowl-winning team. Bush is currently an analyst on Fox’s college football team.
Harvey Williams
Many of you may not know who Harvey Williams was. Williams was a running back who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs 21st overall in the 1991 NFL Draft, with high expectations he would fit into head coach Marty Schottenheimer’s strong running game. Williams never found his footing in Kansas City as Barry Word and Christian Okoye had the upper hand over Williams for playing time. Williams’s time to shine came in 1994 when he signed with the Los Angeles Raiders and had 983 rushing yards. He followed that up with a 1,114 rushing-yard season with the Raiders when they returned to Oakland in 1995.
Unfortunately, Williams never saw the same success he had after his first two years as a Raider. He fell back to earth with 997 rushing yards for his final three seasons in the league. But hey, Williams managed to make a name for himself with the Raiders after a couple of years of playing behind Word and Okoye, in Kansas City.
Derrick Henry
When Derrick Henry was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2016, the team thought he was going to dominate right away. However, he only rushed for 1,234 yards in his first two seasons in the league. It wasn’t until 2018 when Henry had his first 1,000 rushing-yard season and didn’t look back. In 2019, Henry earned his first Rushing title and his first Pro Bowl nod as the Titans reached the AFC Championship game before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2020, Henry rushed for 2,027 yards and became the first running back to achieve that feat since Adrian Peterson did so back in 2012 as well as became the eighth running back in the NFL to join the 2,000-yard club.
After suffering a Jones Fracture that sidelined him in 2021, Henry continued his dominance on the ground for two more seasons in Tennessee. In 2024, Henry signed a two-year $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens and looks to bring his strong and fearsome rushing attack to the AFC North. Be very afraid of Steelers, Browns, and Bengals fans.
Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams was a sensation at the University of Texas, where he earned the Heisman Trophy in 1998 with over 2,327 rushing yards in his senior season. This drew the attention of the New Orleans Saints in 1999, who at the time traded away all of their draft picks to Washington, just to move up and draft Williams fifth overall in the first round of the NFL Draft. Williams had two 1,000 rushing-yard seasons in New Orleans but had a very tough rookie year with 884 rushing yards and dealt with injuries as well. In 2002, Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins and rushed for 1,853 yards and earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod of his career.
In 2004, Williams was contemplating retirement after he failed a couple of drug tests and was facing a $650,000 fine and a four-game suspension from the NFL. Williams returned to action in 2005 but was suspended indefinitely in 2006 for failing a fourth drug test. Williams found a way around the suspension by playing one season for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL before returning to the Dolphins in 2007. Williams had one more 1,000 rushing-yard season in 2009, signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011, and retired after the 2011 season. Williams is also a member of the 10,000 rushing yard club.
Ryan Mathews
After Ladamian Tomlinson signed with the New York Jets, the San Diego Chargers needed a new running back to fill Tomlinson’s legacy. Ryan Mathews was drafted 12th overall in 2010 with hopes he would replicate what Tomlinson accomplished. Mathews played in 12 games, had 678 rushing yards, and scored seven rushing touchdowns. In 2011, Mathews rushed for 1,091 rushing yards, scored six touchdowns, and caught 50 receptions for 455 yards. Mathews earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod that same season. Mathews suffered a broken right clavicle during a preseason game in 2012 and was out until week three of that season.
Mathews rushed for 707 rushing yards and scored one touchdown that season. Mathews had one more 1,000-yard season in 2013 as he rushed for 1,255 yards and scored six touchdowns. Mathews finished his NFL career with two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Mathews may not have been a superstar like Tomlinson, but he did provide a good running game for the Chargers in the early 2010s. Mathews was also a fan of Tomlinson and wore 21 at Fresno State honoring the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Michael Turner
When Michael Tuner came into the NFL in 2004, he was mostly a backup and a rotational back for the San Diego Chargers as Ladamian Tomlinson was the starter for the Bolts. Turner never saw much action during his first four seasons in San Diego as he rushed for 1,257 yards during that span and had 502 rushing yards in 2006. In 2008, the Atlanta Falcons took a chance on Turner and signed him to a six-year $34.5 million deal. The Falcons were rewarded very well as Turner had his first 1,000-yard season with 1,699 rushing yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns.
Turner also made two Pro Bowls during his tenure in Atlanta and was an explosive running back in the Falcons’ offense with the help of Matt Ryan feeding him the ball. Sometimes a change of scenery, for an NFL running back, can turn an average performer into a game-changing star for an NFL team.
Mark Ingram II
Ingram is the son of former New York Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram Sr. Ingram had a very strong collegiate career at the University of Alabama where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2009. Ingram was drafted by the New Orleans Saints 28th overall in 2011. Ingram’s start in the Big Easy was pretty slow, as he only had one season where he topped over 900 rushing yards. It wasn’t until 2016 that Ingram II had his first 1,000 rushing-yard season with 1,043 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns. Ingram’s best statistical season came in 2017 where he rushed for 1,124 yards and scored 12 rushing touchdowns and helped the Saints reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Saints were knocked out of the NFC Divisional round by the Minnesota Vikings thanks to the Minneapolis Miracle.
Ingram had one more 1,000 rushing yard season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 where he helped the team earn a 14-2 record and the one-seed to the AFC playoffs. Unfortunately, the Ravens were knocked out of the playoffs thanks to the Tennessee Titans. Ingram later bounced around the league with the Houston Texans and one last stint with the Saints all in 2021 and 2022 before Ingram retired after the 2022 season. Sometimes patience is all you need in order to succeed.
Melvin Gordon III
Gordon III was an explosive and electric running back during his collegiate years at the University of Wisconsin where he rushed for 2,587 yards, during his senior season, with the Badgers. The San Diego Chargers, who needed a new running back after Ryan Mathews left for the Philadelphia Eagles, drafted Gordon III 15th overall in the 2015 NFL draft. Gordon’s NFL career had a slow start, as he rushed for 641 yards, scored no touchdowns, fumbled the ball six times, and lost four of those fumbles in his rookie year. Gordon III then had the gears churning as he rushed for 997 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in his sophomore season in the league. Gordon III got things going in 2017 when he rushed for 1,105 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns in the Chargers’ first season in Los Angeles.
Gordon signed a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos in 2020 and had two 900 rushing-yard seasons during his time in the Mile High city. Gordon has since bounced around the league with a stint on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2022 and was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Gordon is currently a free agent as of March 2024, only time will tell whether he returns to another team for his 10th season in the NFL.
Thomas Jones
Thomas Jones had a very slow start to his NFL career after he was drafted in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals back in 2000. Jones rushed for 1,264 yards during his three seasons in the desert. Jones then was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he split the workload with Michael Pittman during his time in central Florida. In 2004, Jones signed with the Chicago Bears where his career began to take off. Jones had three 900-plus rushing yard seasons in the Windy City and helped lead the Bears to Super Bowl 41 before the team ultimately lost to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jones was then traded to the New York Jets where he had three 1,000 rushing yard seasons with “Gang-Green” and helped them reach the AFC Championship game before falling to the Indianapolis Colts. Jones finished his NFL career with two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and retired as a member of the 10,000 rushing-yard club.
D’Andre Swift
Swift had a slow start to his career, in the NFL, after he was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2020. Swift shared a backfield with Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson during his rookie season. Swift scored eight rushing touchdowns his rookie season and had two receiving touchdowns, but would’ve had a third receiving touchdown if he hadn’t dropped a game-winner against the Chicago Bears that year. In 2021, Swift rushed for 617 yards, caught 62 receptions for 452 yards, and scored two receiving touchdowns. Swift admitted he played with a high ankle sprain and a separated shoulder during his 2022 season, as he rushed for 542 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns.
Swift was traded from the Lions to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 and Swift didn’t look back. Swift played in 16 games for the Eagles, rushed for 1,049 yards, and scored five rushing touchdowns, as he shared the workload with Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell. Swift also earned his first Pro Bowl nod for his valiant efforts on the field. Swift signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears in the 2024 offseason. Will he replicate his amazing 2023 season? We’ll just have to wait and see!
